Chapter 4: Settling into Qingzhu Villa — The Reception Banquet

Qingzhu Mountain was not a single peak, but a sprawling mountain range filled with crystal-clear, translucent green bamboo.

Upon entering, Lu Changsheng immediately felt the difference.

The air here was fresh and damp, rich with spiritual energy. Colorful birds chirped between the trees, and winding streams trickled through the valleys. On some slopes, terraced fields cultivated grains and vegetables, creating a serene, near-utopian scene.

The Lu Family had constructed various villages and manors across this vast mountain range.

Lu Changsheng and the other Seedlings were assigned to Qingzhu Villa, a large manor on the outer periphery.

"Beneath Qingzhu Villa lies a First Grade Spirit Vein," Lu Yuanding explained.

"From now on, you will live here and focus on your cultivation."

"So long as you fulfill the agreed-upon conditions, you're free to leave or remain in the Lu Family in the future."

"Uncle Fu, settle them in."

An old man with a stooped back and grey hair stepped forward.

"I am in charge of Qingzhu Villa. You may call me Uncle Fu. Follow me."

Uncle Fu led the group through the manor, handling registration, and giving a brief orientation.

Qingzhu Villa was vast and well-managed. Aside from the newly arrived Seedlings, many other Lu Family descendants lived here—mostly collateral members with average talent.

Talented bloodlines, especially those with High or Middle Grade Spiritual Roots, were sent to live closer to the core of Qingzhu Mountain, where a Second Grade Spirit Vein made cultivation more efficient.

Along the way, Lu Changsheng noticed the way the other Lu disciples looked at them—curious, somewhat disdainful, and laced with arrogance.

He wasn't offended.

To put it nicely, they were foreign sons-in-law.

To put it bluntly, they were here to breed.

Still, Lu Changsheng's sharp eyes observed that most of the Lu Family men and women were quite good-looking.

He was, admittedly, a bit superficial.

"If I have to marry and father children... at least let the partners be pretty," he thought to himself with a wry smile.

Roughly an hour later, under Uncle Fu's arrangements, Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu—along with the remaining eleven Seedlings—completed the required formalities.

They:

Signed marital spirit contracts

Received identity plaques

Were handed down Cultivation Techniques

Got assigned to their individual living quarters

Lu Changsheng's residence was a private courtyard, nearly 200 square meters in size, with pavilions, towers, gardens, and all necessary amenities.

Sitting on a large bed, he opened the technique manual he'd received.

Return to Origin Technique

The moment he unfolded it, a  image of a man in grey robes appeared and began demonstrating the cultivation method in detail.

Following the instructions, Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged and began his first attempt at cultivation.

After struggling for a while, he finally succeeded in entering the meditative state.

His mental spirit sharpened, allowing him to sense strands of colorful spiritual energy floating in the air around him.

Slowly, he tried to draw this energy into his body.

The process was excruciatingly slow. The energy entered his skin through his pores, circulated through his body, and left behind a faint trace in his Dantian Qi Sea.

The energy also washed over his veins, muscles, and bones—expelling impurities in a basic Marrow Cleansing process.

By the time night faded, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.

"So this is cultivation with a Ninth Grade Spiritual Root, huh…"

He looked at the tiny wisp of aura in his Qi Sea and gave a helpless smile.

Even with a First Grade Spirit Vein, this was all he had managed overnight.

"At this rate, breaking into the first level of Qi Refinement will take years."

He sighed deeply.

Just as he was contemplating the future—

Ding ding ding!

A gentle bell rang out in the courtyard.

Lu Changsheng rose and opened the gate.

Standing there was Uncle Fu.

"Lu Changsheng," he said, "the Lu Family has organized a reception banquet to welcome you and cleanse the dust of travel. Follow me."

He didn't mention Li Feiyu.

This was a banquet for pairing Seedlings with potential wives.

Taking Li Feiyu along… would've been absurd.

Behind Uncle Fu stood the other Seedlings, all equally confused.

Soon, the twelve were seated in a spacious and elegant banquet hall within Qingzhu Villa.

The room was silent.

The food, however, was abundant—fragrant dishes and aged wines laid out on finely carved tables.

Moments later, a stream of women entered the hall.

Fifty or sixty of them.

All were stunning.

They had clearly dressed to impress.

Some were petite and cute.

Some were graceful and elegant.

Some were sharp-browed and fiery, like sword-dancers.

Some were noble, clad in ornate court dress.

Others were cold and seductive, wearing gauzy robes and high heels that revealed long, tempting legs.

The variety was dizzying.

"This… this Lu Family really puts in effort!" Lu Changsheng thought, stunned.

"No complaints here."

Uncle Fu stepped forward.

"These are outstanding women from the Lu Family's secular branches. Not only are they literate and cultured, but also versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"Today, they are here to host you. Choose as you please. This old man will arrange the wedding afterward."

Then, he quietly withdrew.

The women approached of their own volition.

Lu Changsheng didn't need to say anything.

Most of them were descendants of cultivators themselves. Coming here was their choice, not a coercion.

Marrying a Seedling was a way to secure their future—if the offspring had Spiritual Roots, they would benefit greatly.

Thus, the women actually had more say in the selection.

Lu Changsheng, with his average looks and Ninth Grade Spiritual Root, wasn't the most popular.

Only three women approached him.

He didn't mind.

"Three's more than enough. Can't be greedy."

More importantly, they were all charming in their own way.

One was pure and lovely, with a playful glint in her eyes.

Another was sweet and seductive, radiating innocence and temptation.

The third was gentle and refined, the picture of a well-bred young lady.

He noticed the first two looked quite alike—likely sisters.

That worked for him.

He embraced all three without hesitation.

In contrast, most of the other Seedlings were hesitant. Some chose one. A few selected two. None dared to go further.

They still hoped to focus on cultivation, and the contract only required their participation.

An hour passed.

The banquet concluded.

All twelve Seedlings had made their choices.

That very night, a simple wedding ceremony was held under Uncle Fu's arrangements.

Lu Changsheng officially married Li Feiyu and his three Lu Family brides.

The bridal chamber followed.

Li Feiyu, due to the nature of her martial technique, chose not to participate—preserving her purity until she reached the Great Innate Realm.

In the bedchamber, the three new brides stood shyly, their cheeks flushed.

"My lady…" Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

"Husband~"

"Husband~"

"Husband~"

The curtains closed.

That year, Lu Changsheng, aged eighteen, married four wives:

Li Feiyu, Vice Leader of the Crimson Whale Gang

Lu Lanshu, the gentle and cultured

Lu Zishi, sweet and seductive elder sister

Lu Qingyi, the cute and playful younger sister

The first seeds of his future had been sown.